Fans,

Katie Scott had a fairly substantial guest role (as the Duchess of Fitzhugh--shades of Lady 'Ampshire!) in the episode "God save the Queen" in the short-lived series Tales of the Gold Monkey (originally broadcast 1982-83, with a regular cast including Stephen Collins and Roddy McDowall).

According to regular industry sources, the series will have a commercial DVD release this June.  A friend had given me several discs with episodes of this program last year and I watched Katie's episode earlier this week.  It's a good time for fans of her work and it seems as if she must have had fun doing it.  She gets to do a couple of comic touches which I know from reading her books is something she wishes she were allowed to do more often.

Katie doesn't come on until around the 20 minute mark in the show, but once she appears, she's on quite a bit.

G.

Lydia, I disagree that Julia would have had a chat with Quentin about the necessity of destroying Barnabas.  I think, if anything, she would have grown all the more fanatically devoted to him and there might have been a repeat of the dynamic towards the end of the 1967 storyline, only this time with the backdrop of a growing emotional closeness between B & J--whether Lela Swift (who was I think then the de facto head writer) would have taken this into a romantic relationship between the two is hard to know.

I personally think the main drive to move into PT was the need to come up with a way of maintaining production on the series while most of the main actors were working on the movie.  I've often thought that the series might have had a longer life if it had gone on hiatus periodically--I realize that soap operas never go on hiatus, but since when did Dark Shadows follow the rules of others.  This would have give everyone a break from the relentless pressure of producing the show, would have given those who wished to do so the chance to pursue other projects, etc.

I still think that DC was behind pulling the plug for good on the show in March 1971 simply because he did not want to have to deal with another situation like what happened in the Spring of 1970.

G.

Dear Cousin Barnabas,

just keep repeating to yourself those magic words--"Warners greenlights Night of DS restoration project..."

It's the main thing I focus on at this point.  I'm quite prepared to hear next that they're going to cast the whole Depp Shadows thing with Muppets at this point.  (particularly if the new Muppet movie really takes off--fancy Miss Piggy as Angelique?)

The three things the suits care about are sales, sales, and sales.  Oh and merchandising. 

G.

A friend says you use something he calls "polarized" glasses to watch now with the new technique. It sounds like a complete upgrade from the old 3 D.

To be blunt, I find it all a crashing bore.  But for those who are into it--the "industry" is jumping on this bigtime.

G.

Again, I'm seeing a sequence that has always been one of the few highlights of hoDS through new eyes thanks to the current wonderful selection of captures.

Unlike many other parts of the movie, this scene did present a pivotal moment in the drama where notes of character came strongly to the fore, despite DC's determination to focus on action, blood, and carnage as much as possible.

Wonderful series, MB.  Thanks!

G.

I just adore the Julia capture posted here!  What a treat! Thanks so much, MB!

In her first book (which is now long out of print) KLS complained (sort of) that Henry Kaplan always wanted "more, bigger, louder" reactions from the actors.  He would apparently yell "Tran-sish!" which meant the actor needed to convey a "transition" in a non-verbal way.

I love how Willie pouts thoughtfully at one point while talking to Barn...

G.

Happy Birthday, Misterioso Dahling!  May your day be a delightful panoply of treats and delights... oh, and of course, tapioca pudding!  *wink*

Warmly,

G.